Phil’s Best To Worst: Star Trek Movies

In our latest regular feature, coming out the first Friday of each month, Phil (of Phil’s Quick Capsule Review) breaks down a film related subject in order of his own personal enjoyment from Best To Worst. This time out: Star Trek Movies

Best :Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan

Was never going to be anything else. The Wrath Of Khan is one of the best movies of that decade period. A tense submarine thriller set in space, with Trek’s best bad guy and some amazing action. Oh and THAT ending. Almost flawless.

★★★★★★★★★★

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2. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

A powerful story, great action and a cast at their best makes The Undiscovered Country the best Trek that isn’t Wrath of Khan. Years later it holds up well and plays well with Star Trek lore and new fans alike.

★★★★★★★★★★

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3. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

The Voyage Home is rightly considered so high in the Trek cannon. It’s a really good film, regardless of the Trek element with a nice moral message and a fresh contemporary setting. It was also really funny.

★★★★★★★★★★

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4. Star Trek (2009)

The rebooted Star Trek added a degree of Star Wars to it. A wonder, a sense of pace and action that for the most part the previous Trek films didn’t have. It also added an A list director and a ton of lense flair!

★★★★★★★★★★

——

5. Star Trek: First Contact

I always thought First Contact was overrated. Yes it has time travel, Borg and space walks but I wanted a bigger story and by this point in Star Trek folk lore the Borg were kind of pointless. BUT it holds up and on repeat viewing there’s much to enjoy.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

6. Star Trek Generations

So I have a confession. Whilst its deeply flawed I kinda like Star Trek Generations. It’s a terrible send of for Kirk for sure but as a highbred Next Generation movie, a passing of the torch, it does work. Yet another Enterprise bites the dust in spectacular fashion.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

7. Star Trek III: The Search For Spock

Of the odd numbered Star Trek films it’s one of the better ones, even if it does undo the powerful end to Wrath Of Khan. That said the return of Spock is handled well and film offers a few surprises.

★★★★★★★★★★

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8. Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Much maligned but at times, The Motion Picture rivals 2001 for trippy space action. There’s a great film fighting to get out here and whilst it never does, enough moments seep through to make it a worthwhile watch.

★★★★★★★★★★

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9. Star Trek Beyond

First time out this was good popcorn fun but on repeat viewing the film looses a lot. Another Enterprise bites the dust as Kirk bumbles towards a showdown with an enemy that feels massively misplaced in a story that takes a “throw an idea at the wall and see if it lands’ approach.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

10. Star Trek Into Darkness

It’s Wrath Of Cumberbatch, far too long and on repeat viewing just gets boring. And why oh why did that have to rift THAT scene from the infinitely better Khan film.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

11. Star Trek: Nemesis

It has big action scenes and a solid performance from Tom Hardy. It also makes oddly uncomfortable viewing at times ( Riker & Troi step forward) and the story makes little sense. It’s a shame that this was the last TNG film as you always got the impression they deserved much more.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

12. Star Trek: Insurrection

It’s a mess for sure and at times drags, feeling like an episode of TNG TV show instead of a big budgeted feature film. Frakes falters and the script never gets going.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

Worst : Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

It’s not great but it has its moments, not least Scotty being on top form. But Shatner’s ego trip fails on most levels due to a messy story and poor direction.

About Phil Hobden

Phil Hobden is the former Film Editor & Writer for renowned martial arts focused COMBAT MAGAZINE in the UK. He is also a filmmaker in his own right, having produced two cult Independent action films in LEFT FOR DEAD and TEN DEAD MEN. He was the host for the Filmsploitation podcast for 4 years and now writes and edits for his own site Phil's Quick Capsule Review...

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